Systems and methods for providing a ferrule boot

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein include ferrule assembly having a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule. The ferrule boot is used for aligning an array of optical fibers in the desired arrangement when entering the ferrule. In one embodiment, the ferrule boot may have a two-piece construction that includes a fiber alignment portion that defines a first groove for a first row of optical fibers and a cover portion. Moreover, the ferrule boot may be configured to accommodate multiple rows of optical fibers. Other embodiments may use a bendable material for the ferrule boot and/or include color coding for aiding the craft with fiber positioning.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A ferrule assembly, comprising a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule, the ferrule boot comprising:
 a fiber alignment portion that defines a first groove for a first row of optical fibers; and   a cover portion.   
     
     
         2 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises two extension portions to form a substantially C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises more than three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines more than two additional grooves. 
     
     
         6 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section and is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of extension portions, wherein the cover portion is integral with one of the plurality of extension portions and is constructed of a bendable material for folding over to cover at least a portion of the first groove to secure the first row of optical fibers 
     
     
         8 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of alignment slots for receiving individual optical fibers, wherein the plurality of alignment slots are color coded. 
     
     
         9 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a polarity indicator that indicates a predetermined polarity for optical fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises an alignment feature that is integral to the fiber alignment portion and extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with the ferrule. 
     
     
         11 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an exterior portion of the ferrule. 
     
     
         12 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an interior surface of the ferrule. 
     
     
         13 . A method for fiber alignment of fibers, comprising:
 inserting a first row of optical fibers into a first groove of a fiber alignment portion of a ferrule assembly; and   securing the first row of optical fibers within the first groove with a cover portion of the ferrule assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method for fiber alignment of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises two extension portions to form a substantially C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         15 . The method for fiber alignment of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers, the method further comprising inserting the second row of optical fibers into the second groove. 
     
     
         16 . The method for fiber alignment of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises three extension portions to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The method for fiber alignment of  claim 13 , wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section that is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers, wherein the method further comprises removably securing the cover portion to the exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method for fiber alignment of  claim 13 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of extension portions, wherein the cover portion is integral with one of the plurality of extension portions, and wherein the method further comprises folding the cover portion toward the plurality of extension portions to secure the first row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         19 . A ferrule assembly, comprising a ferrule and a ferrule boot that is coupled to the ferrule, the ferrule boot comprising:
 a fiber alignment portion that comprises a first extension portion and a second extension portion that define a first groove for a first row of optical fibers; and   a cover portion.   
     
     
         20 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         21 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a third extension portion to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a third extension portion to form a substantially S-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a second groove for a second row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         23 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a plurality of additional extension portions to form a substantially E-shaped cross section, which additionally defines a plurality of additional grooves. 
     
     
         24 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cover portion comprises a substantially C-shaped cross section and is removably secured to an exterior portion of the fiber alignment portion to secure the first row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         25 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the cover portion is integral with the first extension portion and is constructed of a bendable material for folding over to cover at least a portion of the first groove to secure the first row of optical fibers. 
     
     
         26 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of alignment slots for receiving individual optical fibers, wherein the plurality of alignment slots are color coded. 
     
     
         27 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises a polarity indicator that indicates a predetermined polarity for optical fibers. 
     
     
         28 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the fiber alignment portion comprises an alignment feature that is integral to the fiber alignment portion and extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with the ferrule. 
     
     
         29 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an exterior portion of the ferrule. 
     
     
         30 . The ferrule assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the alignment feature extends from the fiber alignment portion to abut with an interior surface of the ferrule.